} 



/ 



IS6 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 



43. To enter on a formal refutation of 



opinion fo loaded with objed 



would be 



tafk as irkfome as unneceflary. A few obferva- 

 tions will fuffice. 



The notion of the great degradation of moun- 

 tains, involved in this hypotheiis, is the part of 

 it to which I am leaft difpofed to objed. But 

 I cannot help reminding Mr Kirvvan, that the 

 effeds of wafte are not fuppofed lefs in this 

 than in Dr Hutton's theory ; and that he has 

 aiTumed the very principle, of which that theo- 

 ry makes fo much ufe, though he has referved 

 to himfelf, as it fhould feem, the right of denying 

 it, when it does not accord with his fyftem. It 

 is indeed worth while to compare what is faid 

 concerning the degradation of mountains, in the 

 above quotations, and Itill more fully in the 

 book itfelf, with what is advanced concerning 

 their indeftru(Stibility, in another palTage of the 

 fame volume * : 



*' Ail mountains are not fubject to decay ; for 

 inilance, fcarce any of thofe that confifl; of red 

 granite. The ftooe of which the Runic rocks 

 are formed, have withftood decompofition for two 



thoufand y 



their characlers evince." &- 



" Eafaltic uillars. m 



P 



F 



general, bid defi 



decay." &c. 



a> 



He goes on to d 



V 



ry flep of 



th 



e degradation of land, by which it is wafted 



can 



d 



% 



Page 436 



